Irish Roots and Folk Traditions

Danny Burns began his career as a traveling folksinger nearly 20 years ago, working both in the US and across the pond. His unique Irish roots weigh nicely into the mix of folk traditions from his native Ireland and his American influences.

He’s lived in the US for 19 years, beginning in New York City, playing bar gigs before gigging his way through New Orleans, Chicago, and the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, where he finally landed — although relocating to Nashville, TN may be in short order, as a home base in support of his debut CD project, North Country.

Danny spent his childhood in the Irish county of Donegal, and grew up in a family of working musicians. It was a communal experience, filled with folk songs that had been passed down from one generation to the next. “It was never about one specific musician,” he recalled. “It was about listening and learning. It was about playing a song, then passing the guitar to the person beside you, and hearing them play a song, too. There was no ego involved.”

Danny became a working musician at age 16 when family members began subbing out gigs to him. “There were always amps and PA systems and all kinds of people and musicians hanging around the house when I was a kid,” he recalled. “Gigging was really the bread and butter for our family.” Danny remembered the feeling he had getting paid to play music verses washing dishes or doing construction. “You’re out at night, and playing music, and getting paid for it – that was a really big deal,” he said.

His new self produced CD, North Country, is a collaborative album featuring appearances by bluegrass icons like Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Tift Merritt, and Dan Tyminski, and considered a “transatlantic folk album” that’s both “diverse and driving, filled with swooning melodies, evocative storytelling, and an elevated level of musicianship.”

To find out more, visit
www.dannyburnsband.com